Indicating instrument



f 16, 1939, l f w. gB'MS'WELL N f 2,158,925

k .IrmwA'rmc INSTRUMENT n Filed April 22, 193e NTO R 'Panarea Muis, i939 ,y

weiss w. Brunn, w

n. c., mlmllhington, f 01m-hilf to Hattie Br Bhlnllolser, Walkington. D. C.

pacman Api-u zz, 1m, sqm N. 1am icmm. (ci. V11eizan The object of the invention is to provide a dial and indicator combination for various forms 0f 'K indicating instruments, particularly speedomv eters, so that the user, by mere casual observance, 5 maybe apprisedV at least of the approximate reading; to provide an indicating instrument consisting of relatively movable dial and indicator and associat'edlight source in which either the dial or the indicator is provided lwith distinctively dened zones which, in combination with the lightl source and the indicator, are caused to be 'associated with definite groups of graduations on the dial: and generally to provide an instrument of the kind indicated which is of comparatively simple form for the functions to be performed and susceptible of cheap manufacture. l Y y With this object in view, the invention consists in a construction and combination of parts of 'which a preferred embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of one form of the invention. y g

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the plane indicated by the line 2--2 of Flure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail elevational view of the indicator.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the rear side 'Y of the dial. l -Figure 5 is an elevational view of a modiiied form of the invention.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the plane indicated by thve line '-6 of Figure 5.

'As illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the inventionk comprises a dial III and indicator disk Il positioned behind the Ydial andA mounted for angular or turning movement with respect to the same, so that the pointer I2 may read over graduations i3 of the dial.

40 'Ihe dial is made preferably of a transparent material which is reduced to opacity at the center, as indicated at Il, and to translucency in the area surrounding the opaque area and for the angular extent of the graduations. The opaque zone il is secured by the Aapplicationo! either coloring matter to the rear face of -the kdial-or by ythe application of a thin lamina, preferably black, as indicated in the drawing. Similarly the transparent area is secured and is divided cinto a series of zones II, it, I1 and Il which are distinguishably colored, being respectively preferably red, yellow, green and blue. The zones l5 to IB inclusive vary in angular extent so that each will embrace its own series of graduations I3 and the zone i8 is arranged preferably to embrace the graduations Il to il, the usual speed range in motor vehicles in touring.

The disk Ii is formed preferably from a thick sheet of transparent material and divided into the transparent and opaque zones ii and 2U, the former corresponding in size to the opaque zone I4 on the dial and the latter coveringvthe remainder of the area of the disk. The opaque zone 2l is preferably black and in order that the pointer I2 may be clearly defined thereon, the 10 disk is punched, as indicated at 2i, to provide a lwindow representative of the stem of the arrow head I2 which is positioned at the center of a recess 22 in the edge of the disk formed by cutf ting out a segment ofthe disk so as to leave a l5 space on either side of the arrow head.

A light source is provided behind the dial in the form of lamps 23 positioned at spaced points as shown and the indicator is positioned in interl vening relation to the light source and dial, so 3 that its opaque zone obstructs the light from the lamps except where it may shine through the recess 22 and window 2|.

K Movement of the dial lis accomplished through the conventional flexible shaft 2| designed to be g5 connected with some moving part of the rvehicle and as the indicator turns in response to speed changes, thevarrow outline is thrown on the dial by the lamp source and its background, at the time of the indication, is shown by'one of the so translucent zones I! to I2 inclusive. the blue zone indicating slow speeds, the green zone higher speeds, the yellow zone touring speeds and the red zone danger speeds. Therefore without the necessity for having to note definitely the actual 35 speed, the distinguishably colored zones indicate generally the speed at which the vehicle is traveling.

In order that the conventional odometer'may be used with the invention, the zone I4 in the 40 dial is provided with a transparent area or zone '2l through which the digits of an odometer are observable, the transparent zone I! in the indicator disk, although intervening between 'the odometer and the dial, leavingthe window or 46 zone 25 visually unobstructed.

In that form of the invention shown in Figures 5 and 6, the dial 2i is in the form of a ring on which the graduations 21 are inscribed, the

graduation 2l indicating the division between 50 medium and hazardous speeds being inscribed on an ear 29 which is deflected back from the plane of the dial, so as to lie at an angle to the vertical. The indicator 30 in this form of the invention is also in the form of a disk made of transparent 55 the flange onto the graduation 28. 'As the' disk 'rotates in the indicatingpperation, the differywardlyodirected vannular flange 3l which is colored to provide distinguishably colored zones of the order of the zones I5 to I8 inclusive. The light source in this .form of the invention is in the form of a lamp positioned behindv the indicator disk but below the ear 29 and within the flange 3l,A so that its rays willshine through ently colored zones are presented to the light source and accordingly the graduation 2B shows up in different colors, depending on the positionv of the disk. In this'way general indicationis given of the speed range, the actual indication of which is shown by'the position of the arrow 33 with respect to any one of the graduations 21 or the graduatinn 23,1: the speed actually is in accordance with the latter graduation.

The invention having beendescribed, what is claimed as new and useful is:

In a speedometer or like instrument. a dial formed with a series of distinctively colored translucent zones, an indicator mounted behind the dial for angular or turning movement with respect thereto and consisting ot a disk having a. central circular transparent zone and a surroundp ing opaque zone conterminous with all of the translucent zones, said disk being circumferentiallyl recessed along its marginal edge to define anarrow head centrally of the recess and the `disk having a window radiating in outwardly -tapered'formation from adjacent the transparent zone to adjacent the arrow head to dene the stem of the arrow,a light source behind the indicator to direct light through the recess and window defining the arrow and through the translucent zones in the movement of the indicator, and vthe dial having a circular opaque zone corresponding to the transparent zone in the indi- Mcator and atransparent zone bounded by the opaque zone and through which the digits of an odometer may be observed.4

WELCA W. BRASWELL. 

